Chapter 5

There was an ominous silence all around the house, as though the mansion itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Lila meandered into the garden, the only sounds were the one coming from the far-off rustling of leaves and the crunch of gravel underfoot.

Ever since she'd found the picture, she'd felt uneasy and couldn't get rid of the feeling that someone was watching her, that something was simmering just out of reach.

Lila caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye as she approached the remote area of the estate where the trees were tall and the light was scarce. Her heart skipped a beat as she noticed two people standing together—Ethan and a man she didn't recognize—as she paused to gaze through the dense vegetation. The stranger's face was hidden by the tree shadows, but he was tall and broad-shouldered.

There was an air of malice that seemed to emanate from him, something that gave Lila the creeps.

Lila couldn't hear the two men's conversation because they were talking so quietly, but she could sense the tension between them. She inched forward, taking care to remain unseen, listening intently. The stranger growled, softly but angrily, "You're playing a dangerous game, Ethan. You understand what happens when you violate our agreement."

With a stiff stance and an incomprehensible face, Ethan answered, "I haven't broken anything. The conditions are being met, but not in the manner you had hoped.”

"The manners?” The man sneered. "Do you believe you can bend them to fit your requirements? You're playing with uncontrollable forces. This is beyond you, Ethan, beyond your ruined self-esteem. You don't realize the risks you are taking.”

Ethan's jaw tightened, and Lila briefly noticed a glimmer of fear and weakness in his eyes, which was swiftly hidden under his normally icy demeanor. "I am well aware of what I am doing. You simply don't see everything in the photo.”

The man moved in closer, his voice dwindling to an ominous murmur. “Do you believe you can keep her safe? That she won't become entangled in the chaos? The agreement—”

Ethan interrupted, his voice firm and low, saying, "Enough! I’m taking care of it."

Lila felt a chill run down her spine at the idea of a contract. About which deal were they talking? Furthermore, to whom was "her" that they were alluding? Was it the picture of a woman? Or was it her? Lila emerged from behind the woods before she had a change of heart, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and rage. "What are you guys discussing? What agreement?”

The tension in the air became oppressive as both guys turned to face her. As he recognized Lila, the stranger's eyes narrowed and a slow, sly smile stretched across his face. “That's her, then. The new Mrs. Cross Ethan's eyes flashed with a frightening mixture of concern and rage,” his face devoid of color.

"Lila, return inside. Right now.” Ethan said in a soft commanding tone.

Lila, though, did not move. She had had enough of being misled and treated like a little child incapable of processing the facts.

“I won't, I promise. Tell me what's going on, please. What kind of agreement? Which contract are you both discussing?”

The stranger grinned more broadly and had a dark sense of humor in his eyes. "Mrs. Cross, you ought to pay attention to your spouse. It's wise to keep some things unknown.”

With a protective stance and a barely suppressed rage in his words, Ethan moved between them.

"Lila, leave this alone.” I'm not going to warn you again. However, Lila's anxiety was giving way soon to a fierce curiosity and an unyielding determination. "No, Ethan. I'm entitled to the truth to know. I am owed that much by you.”

The air was heavy with unspoken words and unresolved feelings, and the tension between them crackled like electricity. Ethan peered directly into her eyes, revealing a whirlwind of feelings beneath the surface, including rage, irritation, and something else that appeared to be fear.

The stranger laughed ominously before either of them could say anything more. "Interesting. Really fascinating. But exercise caution, Mrs. Cross. It can be risky to be curious. What you discover might not please you.”

Ethan's angry face twisted as he turned on the man. "Leave," he growled, his tone lethal. "Right now."

The man's smile disappeared, replaced with a calculating, hard stare. With a final look that seemed to imprint Lila's face to memory, he left a heavy quiet in his wake before turning and vanishing into the shadows. With a glare in his eyes, Ethan turned to face Lila as soon as the man left.

His voice tight with rage, he asked, "What were you thinking? Are you aware of what you just did?"

The force of his comments made Lila flinch a little, but she did not back down.

"Ethan, I'm sick of the secrets. I have had enough of being in the dark. You can't ignore me and think I'll be alright with it.”

Ethan stepped closer and growled, "This isn't a game, Lila." His voice was low and menacing. "You are unaware of the stakes. It's not something you can easily pawn off on.”

"So tell me!" Lila fired back, her temper exploding. “Tell me what's happening! What do you fear so much?”

Ethan's teeth chattered as he tried to keep his cool. His dark eyes seemed to be haunted by something Lila was unable to comprehend. She briefly believed that he might at last reveal himself to her and allow her to enter.

However, in an instant, the walls rose again, and he turned his back on her.

With a chilly, final tone, he ordered, "Lila, stay out of it. You only need to know that."

Lila's thoughts was spinning from the experience as she watched him go, her heart thumping fiercely in her breast. Their relationship had reached a breaking point due to their tension, and while she was terrified, she was also drawn to him because of the unsaid bond that was simmering beneath the surface. Lila was confident of one thing: she was much more involved than she had ever thought, regardless of what was going on in this place or the secrets Ethan was holding. And now there was no going back.